"The president was already breathing hard, spitting and sweating heavily, just the way any runner would when pushing for a [personal best]," says Runner's World writer Bob Wischnia, who was in the race.

Bush paid for that opening burst, slowing to 6:49 for the second mile and gutting out a 7:10 third mile. His 20:29 pace would be impressive for any runner, much less a 55-year-old.

But where he earned real respect from fellow runners was attacking that first mile, knowing full well the agony that awaited him at mile 3. Hanging on to a fast pace is torturous for an exhausted athlete.

"When you see that, you know he is no wimp," says Jon Hughes, owner of the Track Shack. "This guy is mentally tough. That makes me feel better about where he is."

THE READERS WRITE

Dear Mike: Your article on Celebration the other day was great. I have been in the real-estate business for 18 years, and when all those people lined up in the wee hours of the morning to get a number that would allow them to buy into a house on land across from Water Mania, I could not believe it.

Dee Porter

Dear Dee: For those prices, I'd expect Blizzard Beach.

Dear Mike: The concept that "God" is an angry old man who created everything, then took to alternately destroying his work, ignoring it or interfering on whims that come and go, is one of the most absurd pieces of nonsense imaginable.

Nick Stratman

Dear Nick: You better hope so.

Dear Mike: It might be that there is no God. I hope that there is, and I will search for him within. In the meantime, I'm going to try to be the best person that I can be, even though there might not be a reward at the end of my journey.

Marie Brandt

Dear Marie: At worst, you'll have a well-attended funeral.

Dear Mike: Your column (about God) will probably unleash a flood of biblical warnings not heard since the days of Noah.

Keith MacKenzie

Dear Keith: Notice the weather lately?

Dear Mike: One thing that I would suggest is to stop using a masculine pronoun when you do not use the word God.

Lynda Monckton

Dear Lynda: One nation, under She, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Dear Mike: In your June 21 column, you cite a survey showing community characteristics most likely to attract highly skilled workers. You indicate that, in descending order of importance, "professional sports teams" ranked 33rd and "close to zoos" came in at 35th. The obvious flaw in that study: Items 35 and 33 are the same thing.

Philip Breeze

Dear Phil: Lions don't make $80 million. Elephants can't get the zookeeper fired. And, at best, the pandas will be lucky to father one child.